ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2359, 11 May 1899, Page 47

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The audiences which assemble at the Dunedin Orchestral Society's concerts seem to pobsess the faculty of adapting themselves to the size of the building in which the entertainments are given. When the Garrison HaJl was abandoned in favour of the much more spacious building in Crawford street, the audience seemed to expand itself immediately in such a degree as to utilise all the extra seating accommodation, and when on Thursday, on the occasion of the first concert of the society's twelfth season, the Garrison Hall was reverted to, one would have anticipated that the management would have found a considerable difficulty in accommodating all their patrons. Such, however, was not the ease, for the building was just comfortably filled, and the few who stood up behind the last row of sealß could have found sitting room without much difficulty. The musical bill Auth which the season was opened was remarkable for the absence of anything in the nature of the heavy classical music which the society occasionally includes in its programmes. With the exception of the opening march, the whole of the orchestral contributions were selected from the realms of opera. <md were accordingly of that light, tuneful, and sparkling order which perhaps appeals to a larger class than any other form of music. On Thursday therefore the audience were alForded an opportunity of judging and comparing the varied styles and characteristic methods of the great writers who have achieved fame by their operatic creation?. 'I lie works of Mozart, Weber, Verdi, and Balfe were levied 'upon in their turn, and U>o familiar airs and tha melodious passages which live in "Don Giovanni," "Oberon." "■ Rigoletto." and "The Bohemian Girl" were introduced in a manner which earned for Mr Coombs and his instrumentalists the commendation of all present. Although not unnaturally there were at times deficiencies which might have been fixed upon by the captious for adverse criticism, the performance of the society all through the evening was f-ingularly uniform in its excellence. The various parts were admirably sustained, there was precision and effect in the playing and the solo passages, especially those for the cornet, which were executed in a style eminently satisfactory. The Bohemian Girl " overture was a particularly hapny ,piece of orchestration. The piquant, dainty music was interpreted witli such delicacy of touch and the heavier orchestral effects expressed with such judicious skill as to render the whole one of the best performances of the evening. The " Don Giovanni" selection was also the source of undisguised enjoyment to the audience. Opportunities were afforded to several of the performers both in this and in the "Rigoletto" selection lo display their ability in solo passages on their respective instruments, and none of the chances were ignored. Ab already staled, the cornet was especially prominent, and in Mozart's workDon Giovanni's solo was rendered with inußicianly taste. The cornel parts in "Rigoletto " were rendered with equal effect, while the clarionet, flute, and violin nassages in both work call for no small meed of prai-f>. The dnlv defects thai wore anyway noticeable in the instrumentation during the evening occurred in the rendering of Hipho Marks, and they mainly comprised an occasional suggestion of indecision in the attack and a lack of btcadineßS atnongst the violins. The "Oberon" overture, with its beautiful and originally conceived music, met with adequate treatment, " aud will be remembered with feelingd of pleasure by all who heard it. The inarch, "The Hero's Call," by F. Leitmaun, is a distinctly pleading composition, while the gavotte by Dupplin is also a felicitously conceived morceau. The vocal feolos of the concert were entrusted to two of our well-known singers — "Miss Rose Blaney and Mr E. Eagnr. Miss Blaney was beard to unusually good advantage in both her numbers, " A summer night " (Thomas) and " Sognai " (Selura). and it would be hard to 6ay which proved the more acceptable item. On each occasion she was honoured with a recall, and was also made the recipient of beautiful floral tributes. Mr Eagar sang two numbers by Pontet — " A Vision " and "Vanished." His singing in each instance evoked a favourable demonstration, and although he was accorded a recall for his first song, his second must be regarded as a more successful effort. The accompaniments clvirinK the evening were played by Mr A. J.

Barth, while Mr James Coombs occupied his " customary place on the conductor's stand. |